Device for releasing fluid from a container



March 5, 1935.

o. N. wlswELl. v 1,993,638

DEVICE FOR RELEASING FLUID FROM yA CONTAIN-ER Filed Jan. 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y EL? /rarpg/ March 5, 1935. 0, N. w|$WE| 1,993,638

DEVICE FOR RELEASING FLUID FROM A CONTAINER OZP@ /L/ MSM/f1.4

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tlieupper ends of thev cylinders. puncturing devices ci the 'general character described in the cc-pending application referred to atented Mar. 5, 1935' PAT , fr ,oservice .Y DEvrcron RELEASING ruin) vFROM A I p CONTAINER l I 1 Oiro. 'Wis'vv'elLLos Angelesr,0alif., aszsign'orpby mcsne assignmentawo C-Q-'lvvoFireVV EquipmetCompany, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware application January 17, resi, serial No. soelaas' solaimsw. (c1.4 74107) This invention relates to a device for releasing fluid from a container, relates moreparticularly to a'device for puncturing a penetrable closure disc of a container carrying fluid under pressure.' l

It is a general object Vvof the invention to provide a device for puncturineja closure disc thatV embodies a simple, effective, and convenient op-Y erating means.

The present invention. is 'concerned primarily with a means for operating a head or device for puncturing a frangible closure disc. The invention is capable of embodiment in forms for use on or in connection with various types of devices or natures for puncturing closure discs. Throughout the following detailed disclosure, the invention will be described in combination with a closure disc nunc-turing device of the general character fully described and claimed in the copending application of Scott E. Allen and Oaro N..Wisvvell, Serial Number 349,150, 'led March 22, 1929, entitled' Non-stalling self-energizing head for puncturing closure discs.

Carbon dioxide and other fire extinguishing mediums are commonly'contained under pressure in flasks or cylinders. In re extinguishing systems yinvolving the use of carbon dioxide, the

fluid containing cylinders are provided With Vpenetrable closure discs and heads for puncturing the discs to release the gas or iluid from the cylinders. rEhe closure discs are arranged in openings in the upper ends 'of the cylinders and the heads for puncturing the discs are mounted on Closure' disc above embody operatingv stems adapted toV be manually or mechanically depressed to cause puncturing of the discs andthe'release of the lire extinguishing fluid. The'- fluid containing cylinders are arranged or placed. in suitable looations'in the compartments or` rooms to beprotected against re. In ships and like situations where space is limited, itis particularly advantageous' to place the cylinders in positions Wherethey do not occupy storage space or obstruct passages, etc'. It sometimes 'occurs-that the yfluid containing cylinders are located 'inconi'ined and inconvenient places where it is extremely difficult tonianually depress the' operating stems 'or to provide or'the mechanical depression of the operating stems Ito release' the fire extinguishing medium". 1

trable closure disc of 'a fluid containing cylinder that is particularly easy and convenient to opf. erate and that kmay be adjusted or Aset, tov be' operable by either vertical or horizontal pressurel 1 It is another object of the invention to-'provide a head for puncturing a frangible closure` disc of a fluid containing cylinder.V that involves, a combinationof elementswhereby the closure disc may be punctured' by fluid pressure means, by electrically actuated means, or by ameans operable mechanically or manually by ,horizontal or vertical actuation.

It is another objectY o1 the invention to provideV an yattachment for ay closure discv puncturing head vof the general character described in the copendingl application-identilied above that `embodies an operatingleverv or handle that may be mounted or set to beoperated by a horizontal pressure in either direction, or that may be setA in positions at either side of the'head to be operatedy by vertioalpressure. Y

YIt is another object of thev inventionY topro-k vide an attachment of the character mentionedv in Which the operating handle or lever may beVl operated vmanually or operated from Va remote jan attachmentfof the character mentioned for;

operating a closuredisc puncturing` device that is particularly simple and inexpensive to vmanufacture, fand. that is'dependable andpositive in operation.

It is another object' of the invention to pro.-v vide'a xture Vor attachment for operatingahead for puncturing a closure disc in which' the ops' erating handle or lever may be readily set in substantially horizontal positions on either side of the head for verticalV movement or actuation to operate 'the head, or may `be set in 'a vertical positionrfor horizontalv operation ineitherr direction." The operating handley or lever maybe set inthe desiredfp'osition by the removal andA replacing of a singlepin or bolt. f

It is" a further object of the invention 'to Apro'- vide'an attachment foroperatin'g'a yclosure punc- K turing Ahead that includes a'fcam' 'operable'upon 'l' Y It is an object of the presentfinvention to` provide a'device or'head:for'puncturingthe pene#v partial rotationv *to 4d'epres'sthe stem- 'of 'th-encad" anda'han'dle' or' lever that 'may be' set or" posifor puncturing a closure disc, and one form of at,

tachment mounted on the head. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig.

3 is an elevation of the upper portion of the mechanism, showing the operating handle in a position where itprojects ,laterally from the head. Fig. 4 is a vertical detailed sectional View of another form of the present invention, illustrating it mounted on the upper end of a head. Fig. 5 is a vertical detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicating by line 5-5 on Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken as indicated by line 6 5 on Fig. 4.

The appliances or attachments provided by this invention are intended for use on heads for puncturing the closure discs of cylinders or ilasks carrying fluid under pressure and, more particularly, on heads involving operating stems adapted to be depressed to cause puncturing of the closure discs. It is vtobe understood that the invention is capable of embodiment in forms for use on fixtures and heads varying somewhat in character, and that the invention is not be considered as restricted to the particular forms and applications about to be described.

The apparatus of mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of thefdrawings includes, generally, what is known in the art as a cylinder valve 10 mounted on a typical ilask or cylinder 11 for carrying fluid under pressure; a head 12 mounted on the fitting or valve 10 and including a cutter 13 for puncturing a closure disc 14a to release fluid from the cylinder 11, means 14 operable by fluid under pressure to actuate the cutter 13, and manual means 15 for actuating the cutter 13; and an attachment 16 mounted on the head 12 and operable mechanically or manually byvertical or horizontal pressure to actuate the manual means 15 of the head.

The cylinder valve or fitting 10 `is shown mounted on a typical container or cylinder 11 for carrying a iluid under pressure. The fitting 10 includes a vertically disposed body 17 having a pin 18 at its lower end and threaded into an opening 19 in the upper end ofthe container 11.

A central longitudinal passage 20 extends ver-V tically through the body 17 from one end to the other. A syphon tube 21 is threaded into the lower end of thepassage 20 and projects downwardly into the cylinder 11. The upper end of the passage 20 is closed by the frangible and penetrable closure disc 14a. The disc 14a is retained in position by a ltubular nut 22 threaded into the upper end of the discharge passage 20.

A lateral filling opening 23 is provided in the body 17 and communicates with the passage 20. A suitable check valve 24 is provided in the filling opening 23 to prevent the discharge of fluid outwardly through the opening. The outer end of the filling opening 23 may be normally closed by a screw-,threaded plug 25 and a cap 26. A side or lateral safety opening 27 is provided in the valve body 17. The opening 27 is normally closed by a frangible closure disc 28 designed to fail or burst under a predetermined dangerous or high pressure. rlhe disc 28 may be retained in position by a tubular nut 29. The upper end portion of the valve body 17 is of enlarged diameter and is externally screw-'threaded to receive the head 12.

The head 12 is mounted on the upper end of the fitting or valve 10 and is in the nature of a device for puncturing the disc 14e to release the fire extinguishing medium from the container 11. Thehead12 includes a body 3o seated on theupper end of the tting body 17. The body 3f of the head is an elongated vertically disposed means of a union or coupling member 31 threaded on the yenlarged upper end of the body 17. The member 31 has a reduced upper end to co-operate with a shoulder 3 2 on the body 30 to clamp the body of the head onto the fitting 10. A chamber 33 extends upwardly in the body 30 from its lower end.

The cutter 13 is operable by the means 14 or the means 15 to perforate the disc 14fto release the fluid from the container 11. The cutter 13 is carried by the fluid pressure actuated means 14, as will be hereinafter described. 1n the particular type of head illustrated in the drawings, the cutter 13 is an elongated tubular niember and is vertically disposed within the chamber 33. The lower end part of the cutter 13 may extend into the opening 34 in the nut 22. The cutter 13 slidably fits the opening 34 and its lower end is normally disposed some distance above the disc 14a. The lower end of the cutter 13 is inclined and formed with sharpened cutting edgesto effectively perforate the disc 14a.

The fluid pressure actuated means 14 for operating the cutter 13 is in the nature of a cylinder and piston means and includes a piston 35, slidable in the cylinder opening of the chamber 33. The piston 35 carries the cutter 13. The cutter 13 may be provided at its upper end with an enlarged portion screw-threaded into the lower end of an opening 36 in the piston. The piston 35 is provided with a Areduced upper end part 37 and the opening 36 extends upwardly through the piston and terminates within the reduced part 37. Lateral ports 33 extend outwardly from the opening 36 to discharge into the upper end of the cylinder opening 33. is provided in the passage 36 to prevent the discharge of fluid downwardly through the passage and the tubular cutter 13. A ball 39 is arranged in the opening 36 to co-operate with a seat formed around the upper end of the opening in the cutter 13 to prevent the downward passage of fluid through the cutter.

Two or more conduits 40 may communicate with or discharge into the upper end portion of the cylinder opening 33. One of the conduits 40 may be considered as discharging into a manifold for carrying the re extinguishing medium to the point of discharge, while the other conduit 40 may be considered as being connected with the chamber of v a head arranged on a fluid containing cylinder or as extending to any other suitable source of fluid pressure supply. It is to be understood that the head 12 may be connected with a discharge manifold and/or with other discharge heads inany suitable manner. Fluid pressure discharged into the upper end of the cylinder opening 33 is operable to depress the piston 35 and force the cutter through the disc 14e. Vent openings 41 are provided in the body 30 to communicate with the lower end part of the A suitable check valve ings'- 'Il practice, the longitudinal center lines oi.

chamber 33 to permit the discharge o f 'uid trapped in the chamber during downward movementof the piston. A y z In the drawings, I yhave illustrated anelectrically actuated device 42 operable to generate fluid under pressure within theupper portion or thev chamber 33 to actuate the cutter 13. The device 42 may be an electrically actuated device of the character setforth-and claimed in the co-pending application, Serial No. 446,673. The plug or device- 42 may be threaded into an opening in the upper end of the body to discharge into the upper end of the cylinder opening 33. The def vice 42 contains a highly inflammable or explo-- sive material adapted to be ignited-upon the energization of an electric circuit carried by conductorsy 43. Upon igniting of the explosive in the device 42, a highpressure is developed within the upper end oi* the lcylinder 33 which actuatesv the piston 35 downwardly.

The manual means 15 for actuating the cut# ter 13 includes a stem 44 projecting upwardly from the reduced upper end part 37 of the piston. The stern 44 extends through an opening 45 in the upper end of the body 30 to project upwardly from the upper end o f the khead l2. A suitable knob 46 is mounted on the upper endmof the 44. rThe operating lknob 46 may have a rounded upper end and flattened sides. vA helical spring 47 is arranged under compression between the upper end of the body 30 and the knob 46 to normally yieldingly retain the stem 44, kthe piston 35, and the cutter 13 in the up or unactuated position. j Y* The attachment 16 isvadapted to be mounted on the upper end of the head 12 and is provided primarily to permit the ready actuation of the stem 44 by manual or mechanical means. attachment 16 is in the nature of acam means for depressing the stern 44 to actuate the cutter 13 and release the` fluid vfrom the container 11. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 3 of the drawingsthe attachment includes, generally, abracket or body 50, a'cam 5l, and a lever or handle 52 or'the cam. The bracket .of the attachment may be mounted on the upper end o'f the body 20 and in any suitable manner. In the case illustrated,

the lower portion or the body 50 is tubular and'is screw-threaded onto a pin 53 on the upper end of the body 30. The lower end part oi the bodyjll maybe polygonal or provided with flattened sides Y to receive a wrench, or the like. The bracket 50 may be Vturned'or threaded on the pin 53 to any desired rotative position and may be reieasably set in that position by a set screw 53a.

The bracket body 50 surrounds or encases the projecting portion of the stern 44 and the knob 46. Upwardly projecting yoke parts 54 are pro.

vided on the upper end 0I the body 50. The opening or slot 55 between .the spaced parts 54 extends some distance downwardly into the tubular main part of the bracket.

The cam 51 is pivotally mounted between the spaced parts 54 and engages the knob 46. The cam 51 ismounted on a removable bolt 55 carried in transverse openings through the spaced parts 54. A nut 56 may be threaded on one end of the k bolt to hold it against displacement. The cam 51 is provided with two like cam projections 57 for depressing the knob 46. The projections 57 project radially outward relative to the pivotal axis of the cam and are circumferentially spaced relative to the axis of the movement of the cam, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the draw- The thetwo cam projections 57 may be approximately 120 apart. A curved cam face 58 is provided on each vof the opposite edges of each oi the pro-V knob 46. The cam faces 58'on the inner edges of,A

the'projections 57 join at a point midway between the projections. The cam faces 58 at the outer edges of the projections terminate iny shoulders 59. TheV shoulders 59 are provided to engage the attened sides of the knob 46 when the handle 52 is in either one of its lateral positions, as will be hereafter described. Y

The handle or lever 52 constitutes the means `ier actuating the cam 5l and may be operated manually or by suitable mechanical or gravity means. The handlev 52 maybe integral with the cam 5l and may be oi any suitable length. In accordance with thi'sforrn of the invention, the lever or handle 52 projects radially outward from the'cam 51 at apoint substantially 129i Vfrom the two cam projections 57.

A transverse opening 60 may be provided in the outer end of the handle 52 tc'pass or receive an operating cable or wire 6l.

Normally, the various parts of the head 12 are in the positions illustratedin Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thecutter 13 maybe operated to periorate the disc 145L by passing fluid `under pressure into the upper end oi the chamber 33 through a conduit 4l), or by actuating the pressure generating device 42. Upon perforation'of the disc l4=1vby the cutter Y13, the iiuid is released from the container 11 and discharges upwardly through the cutter and opening 36 to pass through the conl operation vertically or` horizontally to actuate the head 12. The handle 52 lmay be positioned vertically as illustrated in Fig. 1 oi the-drawings or positioned to project laterally from either sidey of the head. Fig. 3 of the drawings illustrates one ofthe lateral positions oi the handle 52, it being apparent how the handle may be set to project from the opposite side of the head'.

VTo arrange the lever or handle in the desired position,ethe bolt 55 is removed and the handle arranged as desired. The bolt 55 may then be replaced to mount ythe cam and the handle on the bracket. It is-preferred to set the Vcam and handle 52 in the desired position before app-lying the attachment 16 to the head 12. When the handle 52is in the Vertical position illustrated in Fig. 1 oi the drawings, it may be' operated or swung horizontally in either direction to actuate the head 12. When the handle is set in a lat- Y eral position such as is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, it may be swung or operated upwardly to depress the stem 44. The embodiment of the invention illustrate in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings may be employed in connection with heads of the same general character as the head 12 described above. The

attachment is illustrated Varranged in position on a head 122L similar to the head 12. This form of the invention includes, generally, a body or bracket 50a, a cam 70 carried by the bracket and operable to depress the stem 44a of the head, and an operating handle or lever 71.

The body 50a of the appliance may be similar generally to the body 50 described above. The

lower portion of the bracket or body a may be tubular and may be screw-threaded onto a pin 53a on the upper end of the headY 12a. Spaced yoke parts 72 are provided on the upper end of the body 50e. The opening 73 between the parts 72 extends downwardly into the tubular portion of the bracket 59s.

The cam is pivotally mounted between the parts 72 on a removable bolt 74 extending transversely between the yoke parts. The bolt 74 may be retained in position by a nut 75. The lower end oi' the cam 70 is provided with two curved cani faces 76 for engaging the upper end of the knob 46e. The cam faces 76 are curved downwardly and outwardly in opposite directions from a point below the axis of movement of the cam. The curvature ci the two faces may be alike.

The upper portion ofthe cam l0 is segmental, asv

wardly therefrom at any one of a plurality of cir-V cumferentially spaced points. The inner end of the handle 7l extends into the opening 80 and the bolt 74 passes through an opening 8l in the handle. This 4forni of the invention provides means for the locating or setting of the handle '7l in any one oi a plurality of different positions. The means for setting the handle 7l in various rotative positions relative to the cam 70 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches 82 the curved upper edge oi' the cam '70. There may be any suitable number of notches 82 and the notches may be equally spaced apart. Inwardly projecting lugs 85 are provided at the opposite side edges of the handle 7l. The lugs 85 are adapted to extend into or co-operate with two of the spaced notches 82. The lever or handle 7i may be oi' any suitable length and may be provided at its outer end with an opening for receiving an operating cable 86.

ln employing the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. l-

5 of the drawings, the lever 7l may be swung or operated to cause a cam face i6 to co-operate with the knob 46CL to depress the stern llaa. In accordance with this form of the invention, the handle or lever 7l may be set or positioned in any one oi` a plurality of rotative positions on the cam '70. To position the lever 71, the bolt '7e is removed and the handle moved to the desired position where its two lugs 85 extend into two of the notches 82, The bolt 74 may then be replaced to connect the lever with the cani. It will be apparent that the handle or lever 71 may be set to project in anydesired direction from the upper end of the head 12SL and may be easily and quickly operated to actuate the head. The cable 86 may extend to any remote point and may be operated in any manner to actuate the head.

Having described only typical preferred forms of my invention, I donot wish to limit myself to the specic details set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the `following claims:

Having described my invention, I cla-im:

l. An operating device for a container control head having an operating stem, which device comprises a pivotally movable cam carried by the head and adapted to operate the steman operating lever in permanent fixed relation to the cam, said cam having two lobes radially disposed with f respect to the pivot of the cam and symmetrically disposed with respect to the lever, and means whereby the lever may be set to occupy a vertical idle position for operation of the stem by force applied horizontally to the lever or may be set in a transverse idle position for operation of the stern by force applied vertically to the lever.

2'. Anoperating device for ajcontainer control head having an operating stern, which device cornprises a pivotally movable earn carried by the head and adapted to operate the stem, an operating lever in permanent xed relation to the cam, said cam having two lobes radially disposed with respect tothe pivot of the cam and symmetrically disposed with respect to the lever, and means whereby the lever be set to occupy a vertical idle position for operation ci the stem by force applied horizontally to the lever in either direction or may be set in either or" two opposed transverse idle positions for operation of the stem by force applied vertically to the lever.

3. An operating device for a container control head having an operating stem, which device comprises a` body on the control head, a pivotally movable cam carried by the head and adapted to operate the stem, an operating lever in permanent fixed relation to the cani, said cam having two radially disposed lobes at angles of 69 to each other and to thelever, meansv whereby the lever may be positioned for operation of the stem by force applied horizontally to the lever or by force applied vertically to the lever, and stops formed on the lever to limit downward movement of the lever when set'for operation by force applied vertically thereto.

- OZRO N. WISWELL. 

